Apple tree named ‘Fujion’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Malus domestica Mill.  apple tree variety named ‘Fujion’ particularly characterized by having a medium vigorous tree, precocious fruit bearing with high productivity. Resistant to scab. Harvest period more concentrated than for ‘Fuji’ and can generally be completed in two pickings. The fruit is similar to ‘Fuji-Nagafu 12’ with a purple red over colour and well-defined stripes. It is round and slightly elongated, very regular and more consistent in size than Fuji. The flesh is crispy, juicy and intensely sweet, generally sweeter than ‘Fuji’.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Malusdomestica Mill.

Variety denomination: ‘Fujion’.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of European Community Plant VarietyOffice Plant Breeders' Rights Application No. 2011/1876, filed Jul. 26,2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of appletree, botanically known as Malus domestica Mill. of the Family Rosaceae,and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘Fujion’.

The new Malus variety is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventors, Michelangelo Leis, Alessio Martinelli,Gianfranco Castagnoli and Francesco Tagliani in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio(Ferrara), Italy. The objective of the breeding program was to developnew Malus varieties with improved production characteristics,high-quality flavour and aroma, and sustainability by increasing thetree's natural resistance. The primary objective of the researchprogramme is to selection new apple varieties with natural resistances,in particular to scab.

The new Malus variety, ‘Fujion’, originated from a cross made in aplanned, controlled breeding program in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio(Ferrara), Italy. The female parent is an unpatented selectiondenominated ‘U7L-7’. The male parent is an unpatented selectiondenominated ‘H-2’. ‘Fujion’ was discovered and selected in October 1993by the inventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara),Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new Malus variety by budding and graftingwas first performed in February 1994 and in the following years in S.Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, and has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new Malusvariety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction. The new variety reproduces true to type.

In comparison to the parents ‘Fujion’ differs primarily in the traitslisted in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with parent varieties Characteristic in State ofexpression The female The male which the variety of candidate parentparent is different variety (U7L-7) (H-2) Resistance to scab Yes Yes NotFruit: relative area Large Medium Small of over colour Fruit: hue ofover Purple red Red Red colour Fruit: pattern of Weakly defined Solidflush with Only solid over colour flush with strongly weakly definedflush defined stripes stripes Fruit: size Large Medium Large

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Fujion’ which in combination distinguishthis apple tree as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Bicolored variety intense red over colour with defined        stripes;    -   2. Scab resistance;    -   3. Medium vigor, open habit with short branches, easy to manage;    -   4. High sugar content and    -   5. Long storage ability.

In comparison to the similar variety ‘Fuji-Nagafu 12’, ‘Fujion’ differsprimarily in the traits listed in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with similar variety Characteristic in State of Stateof Denomination of which the similar expression of expression of similarvariety variety is different similar variety candidate variety ‘Fuji -Nagafu 12’ Relative area of over Small Large colour Tree vigour StrongMedium Resistance to disease No Scab resistantOf the commercial cultivars known to the inventors, the most similar incomparison to ‘Fujion’ is variety ‘Fuji-Nagafu 12’ as compared in Table2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew apple tree ‘Fujion’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographsmay differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the color of ‘Fujion’. In thephotographs the labels show the breeder's reference ‘LH-59’.

FIG. 1: illustrates the tree of ‘Fujion’;

FIG. 2: illustrates the leaves of ‘Fujion’;

FIG. 3: illustrates the flowers of ‘Fujion’; and

FIG. 4: illustrates the fruits of ‘Fujion’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Malus variety ‘Fujion’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength without any change in the genotype of the tree.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Malus variety‘Fujion’ as grown in the apple farm in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio(Ferrara), Italy, under conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice. The apple farm where ‘Fujion’ isgrown is situated near the Adriatic sea (44°45′ North, 12°11′ East) andis zero (0) meters above sea level. The soil of the apple farm where‘Fujion’ is grown is sandy, and the soil is treated with manure everyyear and irrigated with drip irrigation systems. The climate istemperate continental with high summer temperatures and low wintertemperatures.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includesobservations, measurements and values based on four (4) year old‘Fujion’ trees that were grown in the apple farm in S. Giuseppe diComacchio (Ferrara), Italy, from 2007 to 2010 All trees were of croppingmaturity. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual trees of ‘Fujion’. Themeasurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the newvariety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance areused. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximatelyat 10:00 am in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy.

All trees of ‘Fujion’, insofar as they have been observed, have beenidentical in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Malus domestica Mill.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Malus domestica Mill. ‘U7L-7’ (unpatented            selection).        -   Male parent.—Malus domestica Mill. ‘H-2’ (unpatented            selection).-   Propagation: Budding and grafting on M9 rootstock.-   Tree:    -   -   Age.—Observed plants were four years old.        -   Vigor.—Medium vigor.        -   Tree type.—Ramified.        -   Habit.—Spreading, branches angle is typically 55 to °75            degrees from the vertical stem.        -   Density.—Medium density.        -   Cropping behavior.—Precocious fruit bearing with high            productivity.        -   Type of bearing.—Typically long shoot, presence of spur on            2-3 year old shoots.        -   Production.—4^(th) year: about 16 Kg.        -   Size.—Height: 2.7 m. Spread: 1.30 m. Trunk Diameter: 44 mm            as measured 20 cm above point of grafting.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Bark color.—Greyed-green RHS 197 B.        -   Trunk lenticels.—Overall Shape: round to elongated. Length:            1.8 mm. Width: 1.2 mm. Color: greyed-orange RHS 163 C.            Density: 3 to 4 per cm².        -   Branches.—Number per tree: about 25 at four (4) years.            Length: Varies due to pyramidal shape of tree. At four (4)            years, maximum of 100 cm to 120 cm; minimum of 40 cm to            60 cm. Diameter (at 3 years): About 10 mm to 14 mm. Surface            texture: smooth. Color (at 3 years): grey, RHS 201 B.            Internode length: About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Internode            diameter: About 9.0 mm to 12 mm.        -   Branches lenticels.—Length: 0.9 mm. Width: 0.5 mm. Color:            greyed-orange RHS 163 C. Density: About 5 per cm².-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple, petiolated.        -   Lamina.—Size: Length (4 year old): 84.6 mm (from 3^(rd) to            5^(th) fully expanded leaf). Width (4 year old): 44.7 mm            (from 3^(rd) to 5^(th) fully expanded leaf). Length/width            ratio: 1.89. Overall Shape: elliptical. Base shape: rounded.            Apex shape: acuminate. Margin: serrate. Pubescence: absent            on upper surface and weak pubescent on lower surface.            Attitude in relation to shoot: outwards. Color (mature            leaves): green, RHS 139 A on the upper side and 147 B            underside. Color (immature leaves): green, RHS 141 A on the            upper side and 138 A underside.        -   Venation.—Type: prominent pinnate venation from a midrib to            the edge. Color: yellow-green, RHS 148 C.        -   Petiole.—Length: about 30 mm. Diameter: about 1.8 mm.            Texture: hairy. Color: yellow-green RHS 146 A with            anthocyanin coloration located on the base in a small area            near the stipule, RHS 64 B red-purple group.        -   Stipule.—Arrangement: adnate, grown together; medium size.            Length (distance of stipules from basal attachment of            petiole): average 3.75 mm. Width: average 0.74 mm.-   Spur:    -   -   Present.—On 2-3 year old shoots.        -   Distance between each spur.—On the two-three year old            branches, the distance is about 20 mm to 40 mm.        -   Number of fruit per spur.—2 to 4 without thinning.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming time.—Full bloom on April 9^(th) in S. Giuseppe di            Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy in year 2011.        -   Blooming period.—9 to 11 days.        -   Fragrance.—Slight.        -   Type.—Inflorescence.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—5 to 6.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: about 36 mm. Flower depth (height of            the corolla): about 11 mm, measured when the flowers are            fully open.        -   Flower color.—Primarily white, RHS 155B, when petals fully            opened, undersides of petals there are shades red-purple            color, RHS 70 C. In the balloon stage the color is            red-purple RHS 60 B.        -   Buds.—Number of buds per spur: typically, one per spur.            Shape: pointed. Length: about 8 mm. Width: about 4 mm.            Color: brown, RHS 200 A with hairy surface.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: intermediate. Number per flower: five            (5). Length: average 15.58 mm. Width: average 11.52 mm.            Length/width ratio: 1.35. Overall shape: elliptic. Apex            shape: obtuse. Base shape: rounded. Texture: smooth. Margin:            entire. Color (upper surface): white, RHS 155 D. Color            (lower surface): white, RHS 155 D with shade red-purple RHS            70 C.        -   Sepals.—Number per flower: five (5). Length: average            5.98 mm. Width: average 3.06 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.95.            Overall shape: lanceolate. Apex shape: acute. Texture:            hairy. Margin: entire. Color: green, RHS 138 C (upper            surface); green, RHS 138 B (lower surface) with anthocyanin            coloration, RHS 59 B red-purple group.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 25 mm to 29 mm. Diameter: 2 to 3 mm.            Texture: hairy. Color: green, RHS 138 C.-   Fruit:    -   -   Keeping quality.—The fruits can be stored in cold            temperature conditions without loosing firmness and            juiciness. It has a long shelf life, up to two weeks without            loosing firmness and juiciness.        -   Maturity when described.—Ripe for eating.        -   Maturity period after full bloom.—About 149 days in S.            Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara) Italy.        -   Date of first and last pickings.—About 30 September and 10            October in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara) Italy (North            44°45′46.2″, East 012°11′31.9″) in year 2011.        -   General shape.—Obloid.        -   Average weight.—284 g.        -   Fruit size.—Average height: 71 mm. Average diameter (at            widest point): 87.2 mm.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—Between ¾ of the height near            stem end and half of the fruit.        -   Height/diameter ratio.—0.81.        -   Stem.—Length: about 28 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm. Color:            yellow-green, RHS 146 C.        -   Stalk cavity.—Depth: average 16 mm. Width: average 40.6 mm.        -   Eye basin.—Aperture of eye: fully open. Depth: average            11 mm. Width: average 35.4 mm. Crowning at calyx end:            moderate. Position of sepals: erect. Calyx tube: funnel            form.        -   Skin.—Thickness: medium. Texture: smooth. Bloom: moderate.            Greasiness: absent or very weak. Firmness (at picking time):            7 to 8 kg/cm². Overcolor color: purple red, RHS 179 A.            Percentage of skin surface with overcolor color: large.            Pattern of overcolor: weakly defined flush with strongly            defined stripes. Intensity of overcolor: medium. Ground            color: yellow-green, RHS 145 A.        -   Skin lenticels.—Length: about 0.7 mm. Width: about 0.4 mm.            Color: greyed-orange, RHS 164 C. Density: about 3 per cm² in            the central area of the surface of fruit. The number of            lenticels increases in a direction toward the hollow of the            calyx and the size of the lenticels decreases.        -   Flesh.—Color: yellow-green group , RHS 150 D. Texture: firm,            crisp and juicy. Aroma: intense. Eating quality: good with            high level content in sugar. Sugar content (at picking            time): 14 to 16° Brix. Acidity/Starch (at picking time):            Acidity: 4 to 6 g/l Malic acid measured when the starch            degraded is 4 (four) using the Laimburg scale 1 to 5.        -   Core.—Symmetry of core: slightly asymmetric. Distinctness of            core lines: evident. Locules: Number (per fruit): 5 (five).            Length: 12 mm. Width: 4.5 mm. Form: closed or moderately            open.-   Seeds:    -   -   Number per fruit.—8 to 10.        -   Number per locule.—About 2.        -   Shape.—Narrow elliptic.        -   Length.—Average 8.5 mm.        -   Width.—Average 4.5 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS 164 A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: Number per flower: about 20 (Twenty).            Length: average 8.65 mm. Filament: Length: about 6.94 mm.            Anther: Shape: ovoid, flat in the center. Length: 2.5 mm.            Diameter: 1.71 mm. Color: yellow, RHS 10 B. Pollen: Amount:            abundant. Color: yellow, RHS 13 C. Requirements: the crab            apple ‘Malus Evereste’ is a good pollinator.        -   Gynoecium.—Stigma: Shape: funnel shape with receptive            surface on top. Length: 0.9 mm. Width: 0.5 mm. Color:            yellow, RHS 145 B. Style: Number per flower: 5 (Five).            Length: about 10 mm. Width: about 0.3 mm. Color:            yellow-green, RHS 145 C. Ovary: Length: about 3.5 mm. Width:            about 2.5 mm. Color: yellow-green, RHS 144 A.        -   Use.—Fresh market.        -   Sensitivity to disease/pests.—Scab resistance.        -   Winter hardiness.—Tolerance to temperatures of −12° C.            without observed damage to wood and buds of dormant apple            trees; but open flowers and young fruitlets are killed by            exposure to −3° C. to −5° C., depending on the length of            exposure.        -   Drought/heat tolerance.—Good tolerance to heat, up to 40°            C., growth is limited by drought periods without irrigation.        -   Shipping/storage characteristics.—Very good storability            under ULO-conditions (1° C., 2% 0₂, 2% CO₂) for up to            six (6) months.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct Malus domestica Mill. apple tree named‘Fujion’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.